Total pages in book: 152
Estimated words: 144979 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 483(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144979 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 483(@300wpm)
He glances up, irritation shadowing his face. The thing about Romeo is, he’s not trying to be rude. Since the accident, social interactions have become difficult for him to navigate, which is why he often avoids them. He’s blunt, and he struggles to pick up on social cues or nuance in conversations. He doesn’t like eye contact, and often laughs when he shouldn’t, or speaks the truths most people would keep to themselves. So I take no offense to his remark, and I try to let him know with a soft smile.
“What happened between Abella and me is private,” Angelo cuts in smoothly. “All you need to know is that we’re committed to fulfilling the obligations of the treaty.”
His brothers nod as the weight of those words settles over the table. Everything rides on this. The rest of the Vitale family, my sisters’ lives, my friends, my cousins, the entire Seattle Cosa Nostra as we know it. If we fail to maintain the treaty, the Greek Mafia will declare open season on all of us. The war would be bloody and endless.
“Che Dio vi benedica.” Nonna holds up her glass of wine, and everyone else follows suit.
I ignore my stomach twisting into knots and force a smile as the rest of the Vitale siblings echo the sentiment.
May God bless us.
29
ANGELO
“This all of it?”
I flip through the stack of printed papers with everything Romeo’s been able to dig up on the Greek Mafia during my time away. Now that my father is gone, I anticipate that Ares and his father, Leonidas, will find a way to undermine the treaty. I don’t expect a full-out war as long as I fulfill my obligations, but I also don’t expect Ares to let me have that victory without a fight. History has proven as much. When it comes to Ares Stavros, there are two things I know for certain. He’s an asshole, and this rivalry between us will never die, treaty be damned.
He'd love nothing more than to see the Vitale reign come to an end. So until I’ve secured our future with an heir, I’ll be keeping a close eye on him.
“That’s all of it.” Romeo nods.
“And you’re sure he’s only been to Abella’s office once? No other communications between them?”
An uncomfortable silence falls over the room as I glance up to find four sets of eyes on me. My brothers didn’t miss the uncertainty in my question, and I already know I won’t like their opinions on the subject.
“Come on, Angelo,” Rafe says. “I know you two are on shaky ground, but do you really think she’d conspire with Ares Stavros? It would be a death sentence for everyone she loves.”
This is the Abella effect. Even after everything, she still has my entire family under her spell. I guess I can’t blame them. Before the little liar showed me how savage she could be, she had me ensnared, too.
Things were good between us last night, but I’d be a fool to get too comfortable with her. The absence of my mother and father in our family home is a stark reminder of that. I won’t let my guard down, and I need my brothers to understand this.
“I’m not taking any chances,” I tell them. “I want to know about any communications she has with him. Is that clear enough?”
“Crystal.” Michele frowns.
“Where are we on the Maurizio situation?” I ask.
“He admitted the monthly deposits he was receiving were from Matteo,” Romeo answers. “He claims they were for services rendered.”
“Such as?”
“Helping our father move some money around and get his estate in order.”
“It’s bullshit,” Cristian says. “I’ve gone over all our accounts. There’s nothing to support those claims.”
“Give me the green light to motivate him, and I’ll do it,” Romeo grunts.
“Tonight.” I check my watch. “I want to talk to him first. You can have what’s left when I’m finished with him.”
Sensing my imminent departure, Rafe stops me before I can leave.
“One more thing.” He pins me with a look. “Now that you’re back, are you still set on murdering every man who made an offer for Abella? The Tribunal isn’t going to like it if dead bodies keep turning up.”
“Yes,” I deadpan. “The Tribunal can get fucked.”
“What’s the point?” He shrugs. “You got the girl.”
“And now I’m sending a message.”
“Which is?”
“If other men value their lives, they won’t even breathe the same air as her.”
The villa is divided into wings, including The Wolf, The Serpent, The Raven, The Nightingale, and The Fox. Each is named for the qualities of the descendent who inhabits it, so it’s no surprise that mine is The Lion.
It represents the qualities my father saw in me. Strength, leadership, power, and fearlessness. He trusted that I could secure the Vitale reign for generations to come, not only because I’m the eldest, but because he molded me for it.